In the present work, natural mordenite originated from volcanic soils in Greek islands, activated using HCl solution and HCl solution followed by NaOH solution, was used as support for preparing two metallic nickel catalysts (30 wt.% Ni). The catalysts were thoroughly characterized (XRF, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, XRD, TEM, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD) and evaluated for biodiesel upgrading to green (renewable) diesel. Double activation of natural mordenite optimized its supporting characteristics, finally resulting in a supported nickel catalyst with (i) enhanced specific surface area (124 m2 g-1) and enhanced mean pore diameter (14 nm) facilitating mass transfer; (ii) easier nickel phase reduction; (iii) enhanced Ni0 dispersion and thus high active surface; (iv) balanced population of moderate and strong acid sites; (v) resistance to sintering; and (vi) low coke formation. Over the corresponding catalyst, the production of a liquid consisting of 94 wt.% renewable diesel was achieved, after 9 h of reaction at 350 °C and 40 bar H2 pressure, in a semi-batch reactor under solvent-free conditions.
Keywords: biodiesel; deposition–precipitation; flake-like nickel; nickel mordenite catalysts; renewable diesel.